TWO high achievers in this year’s Grade Six Achievement Test (GSAT) were awarded scholarship worth $50,000 each at Friday’s Inaugural Guardian Life/GSAT Luncheon.

Another 15 wards of staff members and policyholders also got grants of $15,000 each.

The two top students, David Nesbeth and Gariel Grant, achieved scores of 96 per cent and 97 per cent, respectively.

They will be awarded the scholarship annually for five years, providing they maintain at least a ‘B’ average.

Both students, who will be attending Campion College in September, said they were very grateful for the scholarship which will help to pay tuition fees and purchase books.

They promised members of the insurance company’s management committee, other members of staff, as well as the policyholders present at the luncheon that they would try to maintain their grades.

“I guarantee maximum return on your investment,” said David to much applause and cheers.

“It’s really an honour to be getting this award, because I worked hard for it, and it paid off in the end,” Gariel later told Career & Education.

Parents of both awardees said they were very grateful for the financial assistance and said they were very proud of their children’s success.

“I feel very good, very wonderful,” beamed Paulette Nesbeth.

President and chief executive of Guardian Life Limited, Earl Moore, urged both the parents and recipients to invest time in the 17 awardees’ continued academic success.

“Right now, at this stage, they are dependent on you, but they are going to grow faster than you imagine…in no time at all they are adults,” he told the parents.

He also spoke of the role of education in social mobility and encouraged the children to get involved in extra-curricular activities which, he said, was also important to their self-development.

At the same time, Moore advised the children not to become complacent about their studies.

“All of you who think you get scholarship and bright, some of the little ones can pass you out, so don’t go and play around,” he said.

This year’s award luncheon was the first of its kind for the company and was the ‘brainchild’ of Moore.

editorial@jamaicaobserver.com